1879] DRACAENAS FOR TABLE DECORATION. 543 



healthy vigorous plants only shed a small percentage compared to those 

 subjected to a starving process. They should never suffer for want of 

 water in any stage of development : a low airy temperature is the best 

 possible means of inducing rest. Many of the causes attributed to the 

 falling of Camellia-buds can, in the majority of cases, be traced to dry- 

 ness at the root, after the buds have developed to a certain stage : 

 they, too, should never be allowed to suffer. 



As before alluded to, carefulness will be necessary in every depart- 

 ment ; and watering, in our idea, is one of the principal points con- 

 nected with the successful culture of plants. Soil may be right, tem- 

 perature suitable, and houses well-appointed ; but if watering is not 

 properly attended to, and is carelessly applied, what success can be an- 

 ticipated 1 It is much easier to make a mistake at this time of the 

 year than during summer. Many plants, especially Orchids, require 

 much attention in this respect : many of them are benefited by water 

 being withheld for a long time ; while others require to be kept moist, 

 or much damage is done to their foliage. 



After the general potting in the spring, a close watch should be kept 

 until the newly-potted plants get well hold of the new soil and com- 

 mence growing luxuriantly. In concluding, we may add, that those in 

 charge of the watering of plants cannot give the subject too much 

 consideration, or exercise too much discretion through the winter and 

 spring months. Wm. Bardney. 



A SELECTION OF CHOICE DRACAENAS FOR 

 TABLE DECORATION. 



Thanks to Mr Bause's skill and energy, and to others following in his 

 wake, we have now an almost illimitable number of this fine genus of 

 plants to choose from for the various purposes of decoration to which 

 they are adapted. The risk now is, that we may find ourselves embar- 

 rassed by our riches, instead of being hampered — as we were only a 

 very few years ago — by the poverty of variety of form and colour which 

 existed then. It is quite true that for table decoration some of the 

 older forms, such as D. Cooperii and D. terminalis, cannot yet be dis- 

 pensed with. On the score of cheapness and economy they must still 

 for some time be the principal subjects for table decoration. And 

 it must be conceded, also, that in their own particular style as regards 

 form and colouring they are unsurpassed ; but there are a good many 

 varieties of recent origin which, when plentiful enough to be equally 

 cheap, will divide and claim a large share of popular favour with these 

 fine old sorts. Many of these novelties present marked features both 

 of form and colouring from any of the older species, the forms being 

 specially adapted in some to the requirements of table decoration, 

 while the colouring is varied and beautiful, even to the eclipsing of 



